AMD Radeon RX 9070 GPUs: Official Release Window Announced, Price Still Unknown

At CES 2025, AMD unveiled its next-generation graphics cards, the RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT, powered by the RDNA 4 architecture. Interestingly, these cards were absent from AMD's keynote, even as vendors displayed them with obscured specifications on the show floor. David McAfee, AMD's VP & GM of Radeon Graphics and Ryzen CPUs, took to Twitter / X to clarify the release timeline, announcing that both models will hit the market in March 2025.

"Radeon 9000 series hardware and software are shaping up excellently, and we're gearing up to offer a diverse range of cards worldwide," McAfee stated. "We're eager for gamers to experience these cards when they launch in March!"

While the specific details such as specifications and pricing remain undisclosed, the RX 9070 and 9070 XT are expected to compete directly with Nvidia's upcoming RTX 5070 and RTX 5070 Ti, set for a February release. Reports suggest that stock of the RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT has already reached retailers and is being reviewed by critics, with eTeknix confirming receipt of review samples.

This scenario has fueled speculation that AMD strategically delayed its official launch to better position itself against Nvidia's offerings, potentially adjusting pricing and performance in response to Team Green's new GPUs. There's also talk that Nvidia's market pressure might have influenced AMD's decision to hold off on the RX 9070 lineup's release.

The lack of clear information about the new AMD graphics cards has led to a confusing launch narrative. A June 2024 report highlighted Nvidia's commanding 88% share of the discrete GPU market, with AMD holding just 12%. With no other significant competitors in the mid-range or high-end consumer graphics card market, AMD must strategically maneuver to erode Nvidia's dominant position.